Report: USMNT to face Iran in friendly match

For only the third time ever, the U.S. Men’s National Team could be taking on Iran in an international friendly match.

According to a report in Italian publication Gazzetta Dello Sport, the two nation’s soccer associations have agreed to take part in a four team tournament, that will reportedly also involve a country from Europe and from South America. The time and date of the tournament has yet to be determined.

U.S. Soccer has yet to make an official announcement on the friendly match.

“We received approval from the (U.S. Soccer Federation) for a tournament that will involve both national teams,” Iranian FA president Ali Kafashian said to Gazzetta.

While the USA and Iran continued to be locked in long-term political tensions since the overthrow of the U.S. supported Shah in 1979 and the hostage crisis that followed, the two countries’ soccer teams have met on the field twice previously. Iran triumphed over the USA in the 1998 World Cup by a score of 2-1, and the teams drew, 1-1, in a rematch two years later at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

110 Responses to Report: USMNT to face Iran in friendly match

Play the match. Nixon sent ping pong teams to China, sports can build bridges. Still can’t help wonder if that proposed 2010 match was some part of a cover for spy operations though, remember how there was a run there where we’d go play in Central America and suddenly there would be an uprising shortly after we left? Was Honduras or Costa Rica last time?

Oh well, play the match, would be a good learning experience as we could face them in the World Cup.

It would be something to give the January camp more meaning that just running around in circles to build fitness. A Scandinavian squad based on domestic players and the same from a country like Colombia, Venezuela, or Bolivia for example might be possible. Playing 3 games would simulate group play at the World Cup.

I dont think so. The US does not mix politics with sports, other than that one awful guy who boycotted the 1980 olympics. Iran has no history of sports. Between those two, I think this is just good marketing by both teams. US shows it keeps sports and politics separate. Iran shows it can compete with the US in a sport.

Somehow, if the Swedes instead of the Soviets were viewed as the best hockey team in the world, and our college all-stars beat them, I don’t see that going down as one of the greatest sports moments ever.

Under the Prime Minister Iran’s oil industry was nationalized which would have actually put some of the money and benefits back into the poor Iranian population. Obviously us imperialist westerners couldn’t have that so we got rid of their democratically elected leader. If we had not done that, who knows if Iran would be the pain it is today. Not the worst thing the USA has ever done or even the worst coup (Chile led to more people being tortured and killed because of US involvement), but it’s up there.

Yes, but he also gained power shortly after his predecessor was assassinated in murky circumstances. And he also suspended parliament indefinitely and declared 18 months of emergency rule. And his decision to nationalize the oil industry involved a massive seizure of assets not belonging to Iran or any Iranian (see: theft). And that the overthrow involved the already existing Shah taking power.

It was VERY wrong of us to do what we did, but a bit more complicated than you make it sound. When their elected prime minister is elected after the predecessor is assassinated and then quickly dissolves parliament and suspends elections, that seems questionable, no?

In a perfect world, soccer brings people together. Unfortunately, this is the real world and soccer has as much of a chance to make things worse. Either way, we’d potentially face them at the World Cup so this is a great opportunity to test our boys against a fellow WC team; especially if part of the tournament is down in Brazil. Get acclimated now!

Whether we play Iran, North Korea, Syria, Egypt, etc., all the politics should be removed the moment the whistle starts. Don’t turn soccer players into heroes, victims, saviors, spies, peacemakers, etc.

Though I’d love a “Tournament of Peace” between Iran, us, Russia, and Israel. Talk about movie-in-the-making… Disney would send script writers.

I don’t think we are playing an Asian nation at the World Cup. The way the pots look to be shaking out, the four CONCACAF teams (or 3 plus New Zealand) will probably be in a pot with the 4 Asian teams (Jordan will NOT beat the 5th place South American team in a playoff). The 3 non-seeded South American teams will be in with the 5 African teams. That will leave the US playing against a seeded team, one of the 8 non-seeded European teams, and a team from South America or Africa. Not set in stone, but the numbers make too much sense to do it any other way if the seeds go the way they are looking to now.

I bet 90 minutes of soccer will fix everything. I forsee their leader deciding America isn’t so bad after we bash their brains in…you have to be insane or an Iranian-American to think this is a good idea.

Or maybe I’m a rational person who doesn’t wish for perpetual conflict.
I didn’t say it would fix anything, but what is the risk? How could this make our relationship worse? How could this give Iran an upperhand in any way? If you want to think of this only as a government jab then go for it, but please explain your rationale instead of just name calling.

And who says we will bash their brains in? They have beat us in our recent matchups, we don’t know where the game will be, and dropping a contest 3-1 against Costa Rica doesn’t exactly make us a powerhouse.

It’s a great idea for both teams marketing wise. With recent events, such as the phone call, making people pay attention to the whole Iran – US drama, both country soccer Feds are taking advantage of that.

I know I’ll see it in the TODAY show if the game happens. Good timing.

say what you will behind the politics of it, but Iran will be at the World Cup. not a terrible idea to play them. i’m interested to see who they get for the other two teams, as well as the rest of the details regarding this tournament.